Glass chiller with illuminating means



Aug. 26, 1969 R. D. PRASNIKAR GLASS CHILLER WITH ILLUMINATING MEANSFiled Jan. 26. 1968 V //v vE/v T02 2/74 PH 0; lewsmkme United StatesPatent US. Cl. 62-264 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device forchilling drinking glasses, the device including a mechanism fordelivering carbon dioxide under pressure through a condensing coilwithin a cooling box which is then delivered to the inner surface of awet drinking glass.

This invention relates generally to cooling devices. More specifically,it relates to devices for chilling glassware.

It is generally well known that many beverages and liquors are preferredto be served from glassware that is chilled, thereby accentuating thefreshness of the drink. Thus, various methods have been devised forpre-chilling said glassware for this purpose.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a drinkingglass chiller device which will chill glasses to a lower temperaturethan is possible by conventional methods presently being employed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drinking glasschiller device which incorporates the blast of a carbon dioxide gasthrough a condensing coil within a cooling box and to the inner surfaceof a wet drinking glass.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drinking glasschiller device which can be readily incorporated for use in a commercialbar as well as for a bar at home.

Yet another object is to provide a drinking glass chiller device whichis economical.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a drinking glasschiller device which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture,rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown partly incross section and,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view thereof shown installed upon a bar.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral representsa drinking glass chiller device according to the present inventionwherein there is a housing 11 enclosing a central compartment 12 withinwhich there is a mechanism 13 that is used for chilling a drinking glass14 that is placed thereupon.

The mechanism 13 includes a platform 15 that is located adjacent acentral opening 16 upon the upper wall 17 of the housing 11. The openingis provided for placement of the inverted drinking glass 14 thereinto.The platform is supported upon a plurality of bolts 18 each of which hasa compression coil spring 19 fitted there around, the coil springsnormally urging the platform See 15 upwardly against the underside ofthe top wall 17. The bolts 18 are mounted upon brackets 20, one of thebrackets 20 also supporting a micro-switch 21, having an actuating arm22 that projects upwardly towards the underside of the platform 15".

A central opening 23 within the platform 15 is concentric with centralopening 16, the opening 23 providing a clearance for a jet nozzle 24projecting upwardly from a solenoid valve 25. At its lower end, thesolenoid valve 25 is connected by a pipe 26 which is connected at itsopposite end to a condensing coil 27. As shown in FIGURE 2. of thedrawing, the condensing coil is located externally of the housing 11.

A light bulb 28 is mounted upon a lamp socket 29 secured to a bracket20, the light bulb providing visual indication means when the device isin operation.

The housing 11 is mounted upon a base 30* and is secured thereto bymeans of a retaining band 31 having a snap hook 32. A toggle switch 33is mounted upon the base 30, and the base further provides a means foran electric cord 34 to protrude therethrough, the cord 34 having aconventional electric plug 35 at its outward end. Likewise, the pipe 26protrudes sidewardly out of the base, the terminal end thereof beingthreaded as shown at 36 for purpose of threadingly engaging with thecondensing coil.

The drinking glass chiller device 10 may be suitably positioned upon acounter 37 of a bar as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, where the pipe26 is connected to the lowermost turn of coil 27, the uppermost turn ofthe coil 27 being connected to a conventional storage tank cylinder 38containing carbon dioxide under pressure. The cylinder 38 may be locatedout of the way below a sink 39' or other unobstrusive place.

In operative use, a drinking glass 14 is first wet upon the inner sidewith water and is then positioned in an inverted manner as shown withinthe opening 16, the rim of the glass resting against the upepr side ofplatform 15. The operator then pushes downwardly upon the glass, thuscausing the platform 15 to descend against the operating arm of themicro-switch which thus causes an electrical circuit to be closed whichactivates the solenoid valve 25 and which further lights up thelightbulb 28. When the solenoid valve is opened, it releases carbondioxide through the jet nozzle 24 against the inner surface of thedrinking glass. The light bulb shows the progress of the glass beingfrosted, in view that the platform 15 is made of a plastic panel whichmay be transparent for this purpose. The glass will become frostedwithin several seconds after which the glass is raised upwardly thusclosing the electric circuit again. In this operation, the condensingcoil 27 located within a cooling box 40, lowers the carbon dioxidetemperature and condenses the carbon dioxide vapor into carbon dioxideliquid, which is needed for the glass chilling operation.

It is to be noted that the chilling unit can also be hooked to a syphontype carbon dioxide tank if so preferred.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it isunderstood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention as is defined by the appending claims.

What I now claim is:

1. A glass chilling device comprising a source of pressurizedrefrigerant, a light transparent platform means adapted for receiving aninverted glass on the top side thereof, platform mounting means on theunderside of the platform which allow for reciprocable movement of theplatform, refrigerant nozzle means mounted in the platform, meansconnecting the source of refrigerant to the nozzle means, a light sourcemounted underneath the platform and means actuated by the downwardmovement of the platform to discharge the refrigerant onto the glass tothereby produce a frosted glass, said light source illuminating theglass through the platform to thereby give visual indication of theamount of frost formed thereon.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the light source is actuated with thedownward movement of the platform and coincident with the discharge ofrefrigerant.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the source of pressurized refrigerantis a pressure cylinder of carbon dioxide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1952 Tice 62--62 9/1961Federighi 62-62 X WILLIAM E. WAYNER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

62 64; ZZZ-402.11; 240-2

